The National Chef of the Year
Twitter: Craft_Guild #NCOTY
Timings - access to kitchen from 12.30pm, competition commences 1.00pm to 3.00pm with winner being announced at the 4.45pm Awards Ceremony within the Centre Stage
The most respected and sought after culinary title, The National Chef of the Year is back for 2020, with the search on to find the chef who has the ability and flair to walk away with this prestigious crown.
The National Chef of the Year competition, running since 1972, is one of the UK's most respected and sought-after culinary titles, awarding the crème de la crème in the chef community. It has helped to launch the careers of some of industry’s most celebrated chefs, many with Michelin stars. Past winners include Gordon Ramsey, Mark Sargeant, David Everitt-Matthias, Lou Jones, Bruce Sangster, Simon Hulstone and the most recent winner, Alyn Williams of Alyn Williams at the Westbury.
Winning this competition is all about the chefs’ individual performances on the day in front of a panel of respected judges. It is not based on their personality or past triumphs but on culinary skills and interpretation of the ingredients they demonstrate when the heat is on!. Past judging panels have included the likes of Phil Howard, Angela Hartnett, Henry Harris, Gary Jones, Tom Kerridge, Ben Tish, Vivek Singh, Bruce Poole, Brett Graham, Sat Bains, Clare Smyth, Simon Hulstone, Monica Galetti amongst others.
Finalists:
Marc Billings, Sous chef Prestwold Hall, Leicestershire
Fraser Bruce, Head Chef The Halsetown Inn, St Ives
Ben Boeynaems, Head Chef The Zetter Hotel, London
Nick Edgar, Head chef The Ryebeck Hotel, Bowness-on-Windermere
Steve Groves, Head Chef Roux at Parliament Square, London
Derek Johnstone, Head Chef Borthwick Castle, Midlothian
Harry Kirkpatrick, Sous Chef Trinity Restaurant, London
Mehdi Lahmadi, junior Sous-Chef Coworth Park Hotel, Sunningdale
Karl O'Dell, Head Chef Texture, London
Nick Smith, Head Chef Vacherin / Ashurst, London
Judges confirmed:
Gary Jones, Executive Head Chef, Le Manoir Aux Quat Saisons
Simon Hulstone, Chef Patron, The Elephant Restaurant
Paul Ainsworth, Chef Patron, Paul Ainsworth at Number 6
Frederick Forster, Head Chef, SOW Restaurants
William Curley, PATISSIER-CHOCOLATIER, WILLIAM CURLEY LTD
Stephen Terry, Restauranteur, The Hardwick Arms
Clare Smyth, Chef/Owner, Core by Clare Smyth
Claude Bosi, Bibendum restaurant in Chelsea
Jonny Lake
Mark Birchall, Chef Director, Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms
James 'Jocky' Petrie, Group Executive development chef, Gordon Ramsay Group
Philip Howard, Chef Patron, Elystan Street
Ollie Dabbous, Chef/Founder, Hide
Lisa Goodwin-Allen, Executive Head Chef, Northcote Manor
Graham Hornigold, Director, Smart Patisserie
Eric Lanyard, Master Pâtissier
Mark Flanagan, The Royal Household, Royal Chef & Assistant to the Master of the Household (catering)
Vivek Singh, Executive Chef & CEO, Cinnamon Club